Key Takeaways:
- President Donald Trump spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day posting over 100 messages on his Truth Social website, many of which were partisan and divisive.
- Trump continued to push false claims about the 2020 election being "stolen" and called for accountability and prosecution of his political foes.
- He also reposted messages attacking Somali immigrants, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, and promoted economic policies that have faced criticism.
- Trump’s holiday messages were a mix of festive cheer and partisan grievance, a pattern that has become a tradition for the president.
- The president’s posts were seen by his over 11 million followers on Truth Social, and it is unclear whether he or one of his aides was responsible for posting the messages.
Introduction to the Holiday Season
Christmas Eve found President Donald Trump in good humor, sitting in his Mar-a-Lago home and chatting with children on the phone about Santa Claus’ whereabouts as NORAD tracked his sleigh. The president seemed to be enjoying the festive atmosphere, telling reporters after taking a call, "Nice, right? Could do this all day long." However, the mood soured later in the day when Trump delivered a Christmas message that included a taunt aimed at "Radical Left Scum," who, he wrote, are bent on destroying the country.
A Partisan Christmas Message
As the night wore on, the president’s holiday spirit took another partisan political turn. He posted or reposted more than 100 times on his Truth Social website, in many cases amplifying messages disparaging perceived political foes. The posts were a mix of festive cheer and partisan grievance, a pattern that has become a tradition for the president. Trump’s messages were seen by his over 11 million followers on Truth Social, and it is unclear whether he or one of his aides was responsible for posting the messages. The White House did not respond to an inquiry about the matter.
Rehashing the 2020 Election
As Christmas Day broke, the president made clear he is still captivated by his loss to Joe Biden in 2020. He reposted one message that called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure "accountability" by prosecuting former Democratic President Barack Obama over the election. Trump also shared a video from Colton Moore, a Georgia state senator running for the congressional seat being vacated by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. In the video, Moore said, "You know, Donald Trump was right the entire time. The election in 2020 was stolen." He went on to say that "people need to be arrested and tried for treason — a lot of them." However, no evidence has emerged of wrongdoing on a scale that would have changed the outcome of the 2020 election.
Attacking Political Foes
In his feed, Trump drew attention to a post depicting California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic candidate in the 2028 presidential race, as a socialist. Another of his reposts centered on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s growing wealth during her time in Congress. The post Trump shared suggested, without evidence, that she should go to prison for insider trading. Trump also shared several posts attacking Somali immigrants, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat born in Somalia. He reposted a video questioning her U.S. citizenship and wrote, "Throw her out of the U.S., Now!" The president has made a flurry of disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants in recent weeks.
Promoting Economic Policies
Trump used his feed to promote economic policies that have faced criticism. Polls show that he’s lost ground with voters who are relying on him to make groceries, utilities, and other necessities more affordable. At 1:15 a.m., he reposted a Fox News video in which a guest credited Trump’s stewardship of the economy with the rapid 4.3% growth in gross domestic product during the third quarter. However, critics argue that the president’s economic policies have benefited the wealthy at the expense of the middle and lower classes.
A Tradition of Partisan Grievance
For Trump, sprinkling partisan grievance into holiday cheer has become something of a tradition. As president-elect during Thanksgiving last year, he offered good wishes to everyone, even the "Radical Left Lunatics." However, his holiday messages often include taunts and attacks on his political foes, which has become a hallmark of his presidency. The president’s use of social media to spread partisan messages has been criticized by many, who argue that it is divisive and undermines the dignity of the office. Nevertheless, Trump continues to use his platform to push his agenda and attack his enemies, even on holidays like Christmas.
